Use or Lose

Special thanks to all of you who take time to read my blogs. It’s been a privilege and a pleasure, and the means by which the ‘preach’ in me finds expression. By God’s grace I will continue.

This week, however, a death in the family and a full schedule have kept me from devoting time to write anything worthwhile. But sometimes less is more. So, I leave you with my current ponderings over the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:14–30.

To me, the story isn’t about whether or not we make great interest or return on our God-given talent, it’s about using the gift(s) allotted to us. And about being a grateful recipient. The man with the one talent certainly missed both points. Thus, he judged God a harsh taskmaster, buried his paltry gift, and lost out. If preachers and evangelists gauged the value of their gifting by how many souls were added to the kingdom when they spoke, they’d be tempted at times to throw in the towel. If the body of Christ stopped laying hands on the sick, or praying for and investing time and energy in others because they haven’t yet seen a great return on their efforts—or if we quit because someone else is more gifted, more impressive, more impactful—we might as well get our shovels out and get to digging right now because we've been that ungrateful child no one enjoys giving to.

God alone brings the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6–8).

Our part—however big or insignificant it may seem—is to walk out our professed faith in Christ. Let's use what He gives us so we don't lose. Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them: [He whose gift is] prophecy, [let him prophesy] according to the proportion of his faith: [He whose gift is] practical service, let him give himself to serving; he who teaches, to his teaching; He who exhorts (encourages), to his exhortation; he who contributes, let him do it in simplicity and liberality; he who gives aid and superintends, with zeal and singleness of mind; he who does acts of mercy, with genuine cheerfulness and joyful eagerness (Romans 12:5–8).

Until next week . . . Blessings to you!